This summer, San Diego State is continuing the Educational Opportunity Program’s Summer Bridge Program to increase student retention at the university.
Summer Bridge is a five-week program designed to familiarize incoming EOP freshmen with the university.
Bryan Spencer, counselor and coordinator of the Summer Bridge, said the program helps new students get ready for college.
“That’s the main focus of this program … It’s about getting students up to college level and focusing on those students that need a little bit of help to make sure they get up to that level, because they are at risk and they’re pretty vulnerable academically,” Spencer said.
Spencer said Summer Bridge has evolved to best suit the needs of students in the face of different circumstances, while still preserving the essence of the program.
“Over the years, some of the events have changed, but the typical approach of having somewhat of a hybrid group of students that have developmental needs but also students that have met competency and blending them together to learn from each other,” Spencer said.
Psychology and criminal justice junior Raiyah Harris says the program taught her how to achieve her goals at SDSU and helped her cultivate friendships. Harris, a graduate from Hercules High School in the Bay Area, attributes her classroom skills to her experiences with EOP’s Summer Bridge.
“’Till this day I still sit in the front of every class I attend, I can maintain not scrolling on my phone during class and I attend class on time,” Harris said. “All because of what I learned in Summer Bridge.”
Hospitality and tourism management junior Ana Sanchez participated in the program in 2011. She said the program taught her valuable skills to make her transition to SDSU easier.
“It was summer where I learned responsibility, discipline, things that most students learn on their own,” Sanchez said. “I built life-long friendships, met new people and also grew in the process.”
Sanchez, who graduated from West Adams Preparatory High School in Los Angeles, also said the Summer Bridge benefited her as a person.
“Summer Bridge was helpful in academics but also helped me as a person,” Sanchez said. “The counselors became our guides and prepared us for the real work in the summer.”
Summer Bridge student have the option to live in the dorms for the duration of the program or commute, depending on their situation.
While in the program, students take remedial classes to catch up to college-level coursework. Students who don’t need to take remedial classes enroll in general education classes, which will count toward their degree. Students can earn as many as six units while attending the Summer Bridge program.
The EOP program was founded in April 1969, drawing inspiration from the civil rights movements of that decade. The purpose of the program is to help disadvantaged minority students with low income go to college.
To be part of the program, students pass preliminary income screening guidelines and demonstrate their respective families can’t provide more than $1,500 funding per year. These requirements are designed to give priority to those who are in most need of financial help.
